A bunch sprint. That's what most said the 12th stage would end with and that almost happened. The thing is, bunch sprints in the 100th Tour de France haven't been contested by all the riders in the peloton as crashes have eliminated a fair portion of the peloton when a sprint looms. It happened again in Tours. Instead of it ending with a race between all the fastest guys it was a battle between those who survived a crash. And again it was Marcel Kittel of the Argos-Shimano team who was not just a survivor but the winner! The German has three stage victories to his credit already and this...

Tourist attractions

Fougères

At the foot of its 11th century feudal castle, Fougères will seduce you. Situated on the edge of a 1700 hectare forest, is has a remarkable environment and combines the advantages of a modern town with a gentle way of life much appreciated by its residents. Near to Rennes and the coast, the third town in Ille-et-Vilaine has many treasures to discover. Labelled a Town of Art and History, it is home to the oldest Belfry in Brittany, many religious buildings, picturesque streets and sites marked by the passage of famous writers such as Chateaubriant, Hugo and Balzac. If the Castle and is beautiful surroundings are the pride of the region, Fougères is also anchored in the present notably with its economic plans like the recent set up of BioAgroPolis, a European research and innovation centre for food hygiene standards, nutrition and animal health. Finally cultural and sporting facilities make up a dynamic fabric of associations which enable the organisation of many events and shows.

Tours

At the heart of the Touraine, this superb green land where the castles of the Loire nestle has been known as ‘the garden of France' since the 15th century, Tours benefits from an exceptional location. It offers its visitors the charm of a city with a wealth of heritage harking back to its prestigious past. The Saint-Gatien Cathedral, the Palace of the Archbishops, the Charlemagne Tower and the medieval timbered houses from the Old Tours district count amongst the 500 listed buildings in the city. Tours is also part of the Loire Valley that stretches nearly 300kms along the river and that is listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites cultural landscapes section. A great place to live, Tours welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and many foreign students. Located near to the town centre, the Parc des Expositions which welcomes the 12th stage of the Tour de France is an important economic venue in the region, it organises roughly 130 events attracting more than 800,000 visitors.